Do you ever get the feeling that it’s time to inject a little adrenaline into your career? That’s understandable. Many working adults tend to experience job-related malaise after about five years at the same job. If you’ve not had a promotion or significant change of duties within that time, consider taking action. The good news is that there are plenty of options, including a simple resume makeover. Other strategies are even more powerful, like earning a college degree that relates directly to your work, doing volunteer work to build professional networks, attending job fairs, and consulting a career counselor. Here are some ideas to get your imagination revved up to set your career on a fast track to success and your lifestyle on a trajectory for improvement.
Get Serious About Your Resume
If you haven’t updated your resume recently, consider devoting special attention to the task. And, unless you’re a professional resume writer, give serious thought to outsourcing the principal parts of the task. That means hiring a certified writer, giving them your pertinent information, and using the document when applying for jobs. Expect to pay between $100 and $300 for a top-notch resume. If you’re just out of school, the cost will be on the low end. Mid-career job-changers pay more for targeted documents that focus on specific fields and positions.
Get a College Degree
Getting a college diploma is one of the most potent ways to enhance your resume and help you land the job of your dreams. Employers tend to look at the ‘Education’ section of resumes first. Often, non-degree holders are automatically screened out of entry-level positions. Earning a degree is one thing. Paying for it is quite another. That’s why so many college-bound individuals use searchandapply platforms to find relevant scholarships. There’s no better way to identify financial opportunities for your field of study. The platforms are free and can help you search through hundreds of scholarships in just a few minutes.
Hire a Professional Counselor
Career counselors can point you in the right direction and help you avoid months of wasted time. It is important that you don’t over measure and under prioritize in terms of your career planning strategies. Most charge hourly fees and are competitively priced. Consider bringing your resume and detailed work history when meeting with a counselor. In most cases, you can get all the information you need in less than an hour.
Attend Multiple Job Fairs
Unfortunately, many workseekers downplay the importance of job fairs in the digital age. The truth is that any employment-based event you can attend will help you in obvious and subtle ways. For instance, most city-wide career fairs include seminars and panel discussions where you can learn about local hiring trends, meet HR managers, and get the inside word on hot career paths. Aim for a mix of in-person and online fairs, and don’t forget to sign guest registers and collect email addresses to add to your professional networking contacts list. Always show up to in-person events with several hardcopy resumes, and be ready to give out an online profile and website address to company reps who ask for them.
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